GENOMICS OF SYMBIOSIS

BIOLOGY 148FS

Genomic insights into the astonishingly diverse microbial world, including microbes that interact with hosts in beneficial and harmful ways. Dominance of microbes in our own bodies, which contain 10 times more bacterial cells than human cells and 150 times more bacterial genes than human genes. Understanding how microbial interactions have impacted life's history, genome evolution, ecology, and human health. Factors that dictate trajectories toward parasitism versus mutualism, how microbial symbionts respond to environmental change, molecular and cellular mechanisms of homeostasis. Readings will focus on primary articles. Open only to students in the Focus Program. Instructor: Wernegreen, Lutzoni